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Monday, July 19, 2010
DAIRY TRADE DIRECTORY
HUMAN SKELETON 206 BONES
At birth the human body has about 350 bones, but by the time adulthood rolls around, some of our bones have fused together to give us a total of 206 bones in our body!
Here is the breakdown:
The adult skeleton consists of 206 bones . . .
- 28 skull bones (8 cranial, 14 facial, and 6 ear bones);
- the horseshoe-shaped hyoid bone of the neck;
- 26 vertebrae (7 cervical or neck, 12 thorax, 5 lumbar or loins, the sacrum which is five fused vertebrae, and the coccyx, our vestigial tail, which is four fused vertebrae);
- 24 ribs plus the sternum or breastbone; the shoulder girdle (2 clavicles, the most frequently fractured bone in the body, and 2 scapulae);
- the pelvic girdle (2 fused bones);
- 30 bones in our arms and legs (a total of 120);
- There are also a few partial bones, ranging from 8-18 in number, which are related to joints.
Basically, there are 7 vertebrae and the hyoid bone in the neck.
Antipsychotic deflates the brain : Nature News
Antipsychotic deflates the brain : Nature News: "Dopamine downsizing
Haloperidol has a number of side effects, although many of these are minor and recede within weeks of starting treatment. With few better alternatives, psychiatrists have prescribed the drug for more than 40 years to treat people suffering from hallucinations, delirium, delusions and hyperactivity.
Like most antipsychotics, haloperidol blocks the D2 receptor, which is sensitive to dopamine. The drug stifles the elevated dopamine activity that is thought to underlie psychosis. D2 receptors are abundant in the striatum, where their activity regulates gene expression. But, until now, no one knew that blocking the receptors would rapidly alter the brain's physical structure.
Haloperidol shrank volunteers' striatums in two hours, but they bounced back within a day.Tost, H et al.
'This is the fastest change in brain volume ever seen,' says Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, professor of psychiatry and psychotherapy at the University of Heidelberg in Mannheim, Germany, and a lead author on the report in Nature Neuroscience1. 'Studies have found that the volume of brain regions changes over a number of days, but this is in one to two hours, and in half that time it bounces back.'"
Haloperidol has a number of side effects, although many of these are minor and recede within weeks of starting treatment. With few better alternatives, psychiatrists have prescribed the drug for more than 40 years to treat people suffering from hallucinations, delirium, delusions and hyperactivity.
Like most antipsychotics, haloperidol blocks the D2 receptor, which is sensitive to dopamine. The drug stifles the elevated dopamine activity that is thought to underlie psychosis. D2 receptors are abundant in the striatum, where their activity regulates gene expression. But, until now, no one knew that blocking the receptors would rapidly alter the brain's physical structure.
Haloperidol shrank volunteers' striatums in two hours, but they bounced back within a day.Tost, H et al.
'This is the fastest change in brain volume ever seen,' says Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, professor of psychiatry and psychotherapy at the University of Heidelberg in Mannheim, Germany, and a lead author on the report in Nature Neuroscience1. 'Studies have found that the volume of brain regions changes over a number of days, but this is in one to two hours, and in half that time it bounces back.'"
Antipsychotic deflates the brain : Nature News
Antipsychotic deflates the brain : Nature News: "Dopamine downsizing
Haloperidol has a number of side effects, although many of these are minor and recede within weeks of starting treatment. With few better alternatives, psychiatrists have prescribed the drug for more than 40 years to treat people suffering from hallucinations, delirium, delusions and hyperactivity.
Like most antipsychotics, haloperidol blocks the D2 receptor, which is sensitive to dopamine. The drug stifles the elevated dopamine activity that is thought to underlie psychosis. D2 receptors are abundant in the striatum, where their activity regulates gene expression. But, until now, no one knew that blocking the receptors would rapidly alter the brain's physical structure.
Haloperidol shrank volunteers' striatums in two hours, but they bounced back within a day.Tost, H et al.
'This is the fastest change in brain volume ever seen,' says Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, professor of psychiatry and psychotherapy at the University of Heidelberg in Mannheim, Germany, and a lead author on the report in Nature Neuroscience1. 'Studies have found that the volume of brain regions changes over a number of days, but this is in one to two hours, and in half that time it bounces back.'"
Haloperidol has a number of side effects, although many of these are minor and recede within weeks of starting treatment. With few better alternatives, psychiatrists have prescribed the drug for more than 40 years to treat people suffering from hallucinations, delirium, delusions and hyperactivity.
Like most antipsychotics, haloperidol blocks the D2 receptor, which is sensitive to dopamine. The drug stifles the elevated dopamine activity that is thought to underlie psychosis. D2 receptors are abundant in the striatum, where their activity regulates gene expression. But, until now, no one knew that blocking the receptors would rapidly alter the brain's physical structure.
Haloperidol shrank volunteers' striatums in two hours, but they bounced back within a day.Tost, H et al.
'This is the fastest change in brain volume ever seen,' says Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, professor of psychiatry and psychotherapy at the University of Heidelberg in Mannheim, Germany, and a lead author on the report in Nature Neuroscience1. 'Studies have found that the volume of brain regions changes over a number of days, but this is in one to two hours, and in half that time it bounces back.'"
Antipsychotic deflates the brain : Nature News
Antipsychotic deflates the brain : Nature News: "A leading antipsychotic drug temporarily reduces the size of a brain region that controls movement and coordination, causing distressing side effects such as shaking, drooling and restless leg syndrome.
Just two hours after injection with haloperidol, an antipsychotic commonly prescribed to treat schizophrenia, healthy volunteers experienced impaired motor abilities that coincided with diminished grey-matter volume in the striatum1 — a brain region that mediates movement.
'We've seen changes in the brain before, but to see significant remodelling of the striatum within a couple of hours is staggering,' says Clare Parish at the Howard Florey Institute for brain research in Melbourne, Australia, who was not involved in the study. 'Our viewpoint was that only chemical changes would happen in such a short time.'"
Just two hours after injection with haloperidol, an antipsychotic commonly prescribed to treat schizophrenia, healthy volunteers experienced impaired motor abilities that coincided with diminished grey-matter volume in the striatum1 — a brain region that mediates movement.
'We've seen changes in the brain before, but to see significant remodelling of the striatum within a couple of hours is staggering,' says Clare Parish at the Howard Florey Institute for brain research in Melbourne, Australia, who was not involved in the study. 'Our viewpoint was that only chemical changes would happen in such a short time.'"
Antipsychotic deflates the brain : Nature News
Antipsychotic deflates the brain : Nature News: "A leading antipsychotic drug temporarily reduces the size of a brain region that controls movement and coordination, causing distressing side effects such as shaking, drooling and restless leg syndrome.
Just two hours after injection with haloperidol, an antipsychotic commonly prescribed to treat schizophrenia, healthy volunteers experienced impaired motor abilities that coincided with diminished grey-matter volume in the striatum1 — a brain region that mediates movement.
'We've seen changes in the brain before, but to see significant remodelling of the striatum within a couple of hours is staggering,' says Clare Parish at the Howard Florey Institute for brain research in Melbourne, Australia, who was not involved in the study. 'Our viewpoint was that only chemical changes would happen in such a short time.'"
Just two hours after injection with haloperidol, an antipsychotic commonly prescribed to treat schizophrenia, healthy volunteers experienced impaired motor abilities that coincided with diminished grey-matter volume in the striatum1 — a brain region that mediates movement.
'We've seen changes in the brain before, but to see significant remodelling of the striatum within a couple of hours is staggering,' says Clare Parish at the Howard Florey Institute for brain research in Melbourne, Australia, who was not involved in the study. 'Our viewpoint was that only chemical changes would happen in such a short time.'"
Artbots show talent : Nature News
Artbots show talent : Nature News: "Culture shock: brain cells in Atlanta drew this portrait in New York.� MEART
They may look like mindless scrawls. But the portraits sketched by a robotic arm in New York's Eyebeam gallery are actually the creation of brain cells - growing more than 1,300 kilometres away.
The cultured culture - entitled MEART - is staring in ArtBots: The Robot Talent Show in Manhattan's Chelsea art district. The exhibition showcases artists' increasing use of electronic and mechanical robotic technology.
Such a display of robot creativity 'is a counter-example' to the number-crunching, warring drones often portrayed in films and books, explains the exhibition's curator Douglas Repetto. He plans to make Artbots an annual event.
MEART is the product of a collaboration between SymbioticA, an art-science group led by Guy Ben-Ary of the University of Western Australia in Perth, and Steven Potter's neuroscience lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta."
They may look like mindless scrawls. But the portraits sketched by a robotic arm in New York's Eyebeam gallery are actually the creation of brain cells - growing more than 1,300 kilometres away.
The cultured culture - entitled MEART - is staring in ArtBots: The Robot Talent Show in Manhattan's Chelsea art district. The exhibition showcases artists' increasing use of electronic and mechanical robotic technology.
Such a display of robot creativity 'is a counter-example' to the number-crunching, warring drones often portrayed in films and books, explains the exhibition's curator Douglas Repetto. He plans to make Artbots an annual event.
MEART is the product of a collaboration between SymbioticA, an art-science group led by Guy Ben-Ary of the University of Western Australia in Perth, and Steven Potter's neuroscience lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta."
Artbots show talent : Nature News
Artbots show talent : Nature News: "Culture shock: brain cells in Atlanta drew this portrait in New York.� MEART
They may look like mindless scrawls. But the portraits sketched by a robotic arm in New York's Eyebeam gallery are actually the creation of brain cells - growing more than 1,300 kilometres away.
The cultured culture - entitled MEART - is staring in ArtBots: The Robot Talent Show in Manhattan's Chelsea art district. The exhibition showcases artists' increasing use of electronic and mechanical robotic technology.
Such a display of robot creativity 'is a counter-example' to the number-crunching, warring drones often portrayed in films and books, explains the exhibition's curator Douglas Repetto. He plans to make Artbots an annual event.
MEART is the product of a collaboration between SymbioticA, an art-science group led by Guy Ben-Ary of the University of Western Australia in Perth, and Steven Potter's neuroscience lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta."
They may look like mindless scrawls. But the portraits sketched by a robotic arm in New York's Eyebeam gallery are actually the creation of brain cells - growing more than 1,300 kilometres away.
The cultured culture - entitled MEART - is staring in ArtBots: The Robot Talent Show in Manhattan's Chelsea art district. The exhibition showcases artists' increasing use of electronic and mechanical robotic technology.
Such a display of robot creativity 'is a counter-example' to the number-crunching, warring drones often portrayed in films and books, explains the exhibition's curator Douglas Repetto. He plans to make Artbots an annual event.
MEART is the product of a collaboration between SymbioticA, an art-science group led by Guy Ben-Ary of the University of Western Australia in Perth, and Steven Potter's neuroscience lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta."
Breath of fresh air for brain 'glue' cells : Nature News
Breath of fresh air for brain 'glue' cells : Nature News: "A type of brain cell thought to be responsible for supporting other cells may have a previously unsuspected role in controlling breathing.
Star-shaped cells called astrocytes, found in the brain and spinal cord, can 'sense' changes in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood and stimulate neurons to regulate respiration, according to a study published online in Science today1. The research may shed some light on the role of astrocytes in certain respiratory illnesses, such as cot death, which are not well understood.
Astrocytes are a type of glial cell — the most common type of brain cell, and far more abundant than neurons. 'Historically, glial cells were only thought to 'glue' the brain together, providing neuronal structure and nutritional support but not more,' explains physiologist Alexander Gourine of University College London, one of the authors of the study. 'This old dogma is now changing dramatically; a few recent studies have shown that astrocytes can actually help neurons to process information.'"
Star-shaped cells called astrocytes, found in the brain and spinal cord, can 'sense' changes in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood and stimulate neurons to regulate respiration, according to a study published online in Science today1. The research may shed some light on the role of astrocytes in certain respiratory illnesses, such as cot death, which are not well understood.
Astrocytes are a type of glial cell — the most common type of brain cell, and far more abundant than neurons. 'Historically, glial cells were only thought to 'glue' the brain together, providing neuronal structure and nutritional support but not more,' explains physiologist Alexander Gourine of University College London, one of the authors of the study. 'This old dogma is now changing dramatically; a few recent studies have shown that astrocytes can actually help neurons to process information.'"
Breath of fresh air for brain 'glue' cells : Nature News
Breath of fresh air for brain 'glue' cells : Nature News: "Astrocytes, which were long thought to simply shore up other brain cells, also help to regulate breathing.RICCARDO CASSIANI-INGONI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY"
Watching a gene at work : Nature News
Watching a gene at work : Nature News: "Scientists have viewed the expression of an individual gene inside a human cell. Knowledge of the real-time dynamics of gene expression may help researchers to explain variation among genetically identical cells and the molecular processes that lead to cancer.
Traditionally, biochemists and cell biologists examined the time-averaged behaviour of thousands or millions of cells in order to understand how the information contained in genes is used to make proteins. Then, in the late 1990s, researchers developed a technique to tag genes so that they produce a fluorescent signal the moment they are transcribed into protein blueprints known as messenger RNA1."
Traditionally, biochemists and cell biologists examined the time-averaged behaviour of thousands or millions of cells in order to understand how the information contained in genes is used to make proteins. Then, in the late 1990s, researchers developed a technique to tag genes so that they produce a fluorescent signal the moment they are transcribed into protein blueprints known as messenger RNA1."
Effects of nattokinase on blood pressure: a random... [Hypertens Res. 2008] - PubMed result
Effects of nattokinase on blood pressure: a random... [Hypertens Res. 2008] - PubMed result: "The objective of this study was to examine the effects of nattokinase supplementation on blood pressure in subjects with pre-hypertension or stage 1 hypertension. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 86 participants ranging from 20 to 80 years of age with an initial untreated systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 130 to 159 mmHg received nattokinase (2,000 FU/capsule) or a placebo capsule for 8 weeks. Seventy-three subjects completed the protocol. Compared with the control group, the net changes in SBP and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were -5.55 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI], -10.5 to -0.57 mmHg; p<0.05) and -2.84 mmHg (CI, -5.33 to -0.33 mmHg; p<0.05), respectively, after the 8-week intervention. The corresponding net change in renin activity was -1.17 ng/mL/h for the nattokinase group compared with the control group (p<0.05). In conclusion, nattokinase supplementation resulted in a reduction in SBP and DBP. These findings suggest that increased intake of nattokinase may play an important role in preventing and treating hypertension.
PMID: 18971533 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]"
PMID: 18971533 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]"
Effects of nattokinase on blood pressure: a random... [Hypertens Res. 2008] - PubMed result
Effects of nattokinase on blood pressure: a random... [Hypertens Res. 2008] - PubMed result: "The objective of this study was to examine the effects of nattokinase supplementation on blood pressure in subjects with pre-hypertension or stage 1 hypertension. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 86 participants ranging from 20 to 80 years of age with an initial untreated systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 130 to 159 mmHg received nattokinase (2,000 FU/capsule) or a placebo capsule for 8 weeks. Seventy-three subjects completed the protocol. Compared with the control group, the net changes in SBP and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were -5.55 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI], -10.5 to -0.57 mmHg; p<0.05) and -2.84 mmHg (CI, -5.33 to -0.33 mmHg; p<0.05), respectively, after the 8-week intervention. The corresponding net change in renin activity was -1.17 ng/mL/h for the nattokinase group compared with the control group (p<0.05). In conclusion, nattokinase supplementation resulted in a reduction in SBP and DBP. These findings suggest that increased intake of nattokinase may play an important role in preventing and treating hypertension.
PMID: 18971533 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]"
PMID: 18971533 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]"
Nattokinase, the "Japanese wonder" gets your blood pumping. - Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients | HighBeam Research - FREE trial
Nattokinase, the "Japanese wonder" gets your blood pumping. - Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients | HighBeam Research - FREE trial: "The Japanese live longer than us and have fewer problems with cardiovascular disease. Their excellent track record for heart health and longevity is partly due to their consumption of fish and seafood, but their overall well-being can also be attributed to something that is little known here in the West. What are they doing that we aren't? The secret may lie in a unique discovery found in a naturally-occurring substance called natto.
Natto, sometimes called 'vegetable cheese,' is made from fermented soybeans. According to Japanese folklore, ancient Samurai warriors not only consumed natto on a daily basis, they also fed it to their horses to increase their speed and …"
Natto, sometimes called 'vegetable cheese,' is made from fermented soybeans. According to Japanese folklore, ancient Samurai warriors not only consumed natto on a daily basis, they also fed it to their horses to increase their speed and …"
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye Astrology Benefit, Gem and Gemology
Chrysoberyl Cat's Eye Astrology Benefit, Gem and Gemology: "Cat’s Eye
Hardness 8.5, Specific gravity 3.75, Refractive index 1.75
Cat’s eye belongs to the Chrysoberyl family. Chrysoberyl is an aluminate of beryllium. Gems that are a cloudy yellow to brownish greeEn color, which shine with varying colors and luster, are known as cat’s eye. Cat’s eye resembles the eye of a cat caught in headlights at night. It can appear in two colors—translucent honey brown or apple green. It is cut into a rounded cabochon and has moderate dispersion.
A cat’s eye’s value is judged by its luster and the richness of its color, the sharpness of the eye and its clarity and shape. A cat’s eye with a yellow radiance and white band is considered a high quality gem. The gem is considered superior if the inside band is brilliant and straight. Cat’s eye is worth about one-third the cost of a blue sapphire.
Some stones show an effect called “milk-and-honey.” If a flashlight is shined at the stone’s side, half the stone appears milky white while the other half remains a honey color. The honey-yellow gemstones are the most valuable, the green ones next best. A cat’s eye with a band is called alexandarite; without the band it is known as chrysolite.
Cat’s eyes are found in Myanmar (Burma), Brazil, China, Sri Lanka, and Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) in India."
Hardness 8.5, Specific gravity 3.75, Refractive index 1.75
Cat’s eye belongs to the Chrysoberyl family. Chrysoberyl is an aluminate of beryllium. Gems that are a cloudy yellow to brownish greeEn color, which shine with varying colors and luster, are known as cat’s eye. Cat’s eye resembles the eye of a cat caught in headlights at night. It can appear in two colors—translucent honey brown or apple green. It is cut into a rounded cabochon and has moderate dispersion.
A cat’s eye’s value is judged by its luster and the richness of its color, the sharpness of the eye and its clarity and shape. A cat’s eye with a yellow radiance and white band is considered a high quality gem. The gem is considered superior if the inside band is brilliant and straight. Cat’s eye is worth about one-third the cost of a blue sapphire.
Some stones show an effect called “milk-and-honey.” If a flashlight is shined at the stone’s side, half the stone appears milky white while the other half remains a honey color. The honey-yellow gemstones are the most valuable, the green ones next best. A cat’s eye with a band is called alexandarite; without the band it is known as chrysolite.
Cat’s eyes are found in Myanmar (Burma), Brazil, China, Sri Lanka, and Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) in India."
Brazilian Beef Exports Grow
Brazilian Beef Exports Grow: "Brazilian Beef Exports Grow
BRAZIL - Between January and June of this year, the Brazilian beef exports rose to US$ 2,352 billion, an increase of 23 per cent on the same period last year.
The Brazilian Association of the Exporting Industries of Meat (Abiec)said that the increase was two per cent or 971,900 tons carcase equivalent down on last year.
However, in June, exports reached $455 million, 19 per cent up on the same month in 2009.
The increase was achieve even though exports fell by 177,000 tonnes or two per cent mainly because of the suspension of exports of manufacturing beef to the US.
Ot�vio Can�ado, director-executive of the Abiec, said that the results show beef prices are recovering in the international market.
The average price went up by US$ 3.986 per ton carcase weight in June, 24 per cent more than in the sme month in 2009.
Mr Can�ado said that it is possible to reach the 2007 price levels again, when Brazil exported US$ 5 billion in beef products.
'Between July and December, exports are expected to rise,' he said.
The market to the European Union, where Brazil exported US$ 148.7 million in carcase beef between January the June of this year, is continuing to concern exporters as more restrictions on Brazilian beef are being put in place.
TheCattleSite News Desk"
BRAZIL - Between January and June of this year, the Brazilian beef exports rose to US$ 2,352 billion, an increase of 23 per cent on the same period last year.
The Brazilian Association of the Exporting Industries of Meat (Abiec)said that the increase was two per cent or 971,900 tons carcase equivalent down on last year.
However, in June, exports reached $455 million, 19 per cent up on the same month in 2009.
The increase was achieve even though exports fell by 177,000 tonnes or two per cent mainly because of the suspension of exports of manufacturing beef to the US.
Ot�vio Can�ado, director-executive of the Abiec, said that the results show beef prices are recovering in the international market.
The average price went up by US$ 3.986 per ton carcase weight in June, 24 per cent more than in the sme month in 2009.
Mr Can�ado said that it is possible to reach the 2007 price levels again, when Brazil exported US$ 5 billion in beef products.
'Between July and December, exports are expected to rise,' he said.
The market to the European Union, where Brazil exported US$ 148.7 million in carcase beef between January the June of this year, is continuing to concern exporters as more restrictions on Brazilian beef are being put in place.
TheCattleSite News Desk"
OVASYNCH-CATTLE
Improving Ovulation And Pregnancy In Ovsynch Treated Animals
The Ovsynch timed artificial insemination (AI) protocol offers producers potential freedom from estrus detection difficulties. This report from the University of British Columbia looks at strategies to improve ovulation and pregnancy in these treated cows and heifers.In response to poor estrus detection and low fertility in lactating dairy cows, reproductive management tools such as estrus synchronization programs are increasingly used on dairy farms. One tool, the Ovsynch timed artificial insemination (AI) protocol offers producers potential freedom from estrus detection difficulties. The Ovsynch protocol involves injecting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), followed 7 days later by injecting prostaglandin F2a (PGF2a), and then 48 hours later by a second injection of GnRH. Animals are then inseminated 14 to 16 hours later. The economical benefits of Ovsynch are based on reducing the interval from calving to first AI, reducing the number of days animals are open, and reducing culling of cows because of reproductive problems. While cows treated with Ovsynch have similar pregnancy results to cows bred at natural estrus (~30 per cent), this is still far from satisfactory.
Initiating Ovsynch protocol at specific stages of the estrous cycle has been associated with reduced pregnancy success. Initiating Ovsynch during the late luteal phase (days 15 to 17 of the estrous cycle) may not result in ovulation and formation of a corpus luteum while initiating treatment during the first 2 to 3 days of the cycle results in less fertile oocytes being ovulated. These difficulties have resulted in research focusing on presynchronization before Ovsynch protocol in order to initiate it at the optimum time, which is between days 7 to 10 of the cycle.
Although ovulation and fertilization are high (80 to 90 per cent) following estrus and insemination, early embryonic loss significantly contributes to the low pregnancy success observed in lactating cows. Inadequate corpus luteum function resulting in decreased progesterone production is a major factor that contributes to early embryonic loss. Progesterone is an important hormone in the maintenance of pregnancy. The administration of GnRH post insemination has been shown to induce the formation of an additional corpus luteum, arising from the ovulation of follicles present at the time of Ovsynch treatment.
Reproductive performance in heifers has remained high over the years (65 to 75 per cent), and time spent on estrus detection is much less when compared to lactating cows. Any delay to first service insemination will increase age at first calving as well as increase associated costs. The use of Ovsynch may help to overcome these issues.
This study examined two strategies to improve ovulation and pregnancy following Ovsynch protocol of 225 Holstein lactating cows and 87 Holstein heifers. Animals were randomly assigned to one of three treatments for first service breeding: 1) Ovsynch treatment only 2) Ovsynch treatment preceded by Presynch (PGF2_ 14 and 28 days earlier); 3) Ovsynch treatment followed 6 days later by GnRH.
Milk (from cows) and blood (from heifers) samples were taken from each animal to determine progesterone concentrations on days 0 (AI), 7, 14, 21, and 28, which were used to assess ovulation and corpus luteum function. The percent of animals synchronized at AI was obtained from the number of animals with milk or blood progesterone levels less than 1 ng/mL on the day of breeding (signifying that the animal was in estrus). Pregnancy was determined by ultrasound 40 days after breeding.
No differences in the percent of either cows or heifers pregnant between treatments were observed (Figure 1 and 2). A significant difference in pregnancy was observed between heifers (67 per cent) and lactating cows (52 per cent). Cows treated with Ovsynch alone had lower pregnancy when bred less than 76 days in milk compared to cows on the Presynch or Post-AI GnRH treatments at AI (Figure 3). Also a smaller proportion of heifers were pregnant when bred before 14.6 months of age than after 14.6 months of age (Figure 4). Many heifers are usually first bred when they reach about 13 to 15 months of age.
This study did not reveal any differences in the percent of animals synchronized between the three treatments at timed artificial insemination or pregnant 40 days later. However, it was observed that days in milk for lactating cows in the Ovsynch only treatment affected the percentage of animals pregnant. Similarly, the age and weight of heifers affected the per cent animals pregnant.
Figure 1. Percent of cows synchronized at timed artificial insemination (AI) and pregnant 40 days following: Ovsynch, Presynch + Ovsynch, or Ovsynch + post-AI GnRH treatment.
Figure 2. Percent of heifers synchronized at timed artificial insemination (AI) and pregnant 40 days following: Ovsynch, Presynch + Ovsynch, or Ovsynch + post-AI GnRH treatment
Figure 3. Effect of days in milk on the percent of cows pregnant at 40 days following: Ovsynch, Presynch + Ovsynch, or Ovsynch + post-AI GnRH treatment.
Figure 4. Effect of body weight and age on per cent of heifers pregnant at 40 days following timed insemination.
CATTLE DISEASE
Bovine Besnoitiosis
Bovine besnoitiosis is a disease of cattle caused by a protozoal organism called Besnoitia besnoiti.Countries outside of Europe where this disease is present include Africa where it is widely distributed. Bovine besnoitiosis has recently been classed as an emerging disease in western and central Europe, due to a recent increase in reported cases and a geographic expansion of the disease in cattle herds in continental Europe.
The disease has been present in some parts of France, Spain and Portugal for many years. More recently, disease has been confirmed in a beef cattle herd in Germany, after cattle were imported from France. The disease has also been reported in Italy. Imported cattle from affected areas may pose a potential threat to countries where the disease has not been registered. This disease is not subject to statutory control in Europe. The disease results in both systemic and skin clinical signs.
Clinical signs in the acute phase
- Initially fever, which may reach 40-41OC and can persist for a week or more.
- Progressive inappetence and listlessness/weakness.
- Slow gait if forced to move or reluctance to move.
- Nasal and ocular discharges.
- Redness of the skin, particularly of the muzzle, skin around the eyes and scrotum of light skinned animals. Accumulation of fluid varies from a slight swelling of the face to thickening of the skin folds over the neck, back and chest or even subcutaneous oedema over the entire body in severe cases.
- Orchitis (inflammation of the testes) leading to swelling and sensitivity on palpation in bulls.
- Swelling of the superficial lymph nodes.
- Intolerance of light.
- Increased respiratory and heart rate.
- Less commonly seen are diarrhoea and abortion.
These signs have usually disappeared by the third week and there may be a break in some cases before the more advanced or chronic lesions develop.
Clinical signs in the chronic phase
- Progressive thickening, folding or wrinkling of the skin.
- Progressive hair loss.
- Dermatitis (inflammation of the skin).
- Hyperkeratosis (thickening of the outer layer of the skin).
- Scleroderma is a typical finding with the disease which is also sometimes called ‘elephant skin’ and usually occurs several weeks after the initial fever.
- Lesions may be widespread or localised although the skin on the legs is more often hard and may be very thickened, leading to slow and restricted movements in some. Skin lesions are also seen around the neck, shoulders and rump and the skin on the udder or scrotum and eyelids may be affected.
- Parts of the outer layer of the skin may be shed leaving greyish, hairless areas. There is often an exudate from the skin, which can dry to form large scabs, and deep raw fissures can form in the skin of the breech and over bony prominences.
- The superficial lymph nodes are almost invariably enlarged.
- Cysts can be seen in the sclera, conjunctiva and the vulval mucosa several weeks after the initial fever.
- A mucopurulent nasal discharge may be seen in some cases, and the crusts can block the nostrils.
During the first weeks of infection acutely affected animals may be difficult to diagnose as clinical signs are non-specific. Characteristic clinical signs tend to be seen with the chronic stage of disease, with the development of tissue cysts.
In most affected herds, the prevalence of infection is high but the prevalence of clinical signs is low (i.e. most infected cattle do not show clinical signs).
There are currently no effective drugs or vaccines available in Europe.
- Clinical examination can allow a tentative diagnosis, particularly if scleral/vaginal cysts are seen.
- Laboratory examination of peripheral blood smears and smears of lesions may be useful.
- Other skin diseases should be ruled out.
- Punch biopsy of skin lesions can be carried out for histopathology.
- Serological confirmation and PCR confirmation.
The routes of transmission and risk factors are unknown, however horizontal direct and indirect transmission seem responsible for the spread.
Biting arthropods, such as horseflies and deerflies, have been implicated as mechanical transmitters of the infection, from chronically or subclinically infected cattle. The potential for wild ruminant and rodent reservoirs has been suggested. The definitive host for Besnoitia besnoiti remains unknown.
Friday, July 16, 2010
AFRICAN WILD BEASTS
African Wild Animals out of Thirst eat WILD FRUIT..
SEE THE REACTION OF ANIMALS AFTER EATING THE WILD FRUIT.
Dr.GOVAN
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
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